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Wal Bass Club.

I guess I will hope to hear back from Paul soon

Here's a quoted email from Paul to me for a similar problem:

Hi Brian

Thanks for your mail

You can just send the electronics back for repair (unless you want to send the whole bass which would be better but more costly). It's difficult to estimate costs without having the electronics here. Typically it ranges from £70-£120 + shipping depending on what’s required. I should be able turn it round within a few days + shipping time.
Please see directions below for removing the preamp.

First, take the control plate off the back.

Second, unscrew the grub screw in the side of each knob that holds them on to each pot shaft(1/16’’), then undo each nut(13mm) that holds the pots in place.

Third, unplug the connectors on the preamp (2 for the pickups, 1 for the socket and 1 that joins the two boards). Unplug the battery.

That should be it - just pack them carefully and send them off to me.

If you have any problems just let me know.

Best wishes

Paul

Paul Herman
Electric Wood Limited
The Old Cattle Shed
Barracks Farm
Cobham Road
Fetcham
Surrey
KT22 9TP
UK
07796 815 556
[email protected]
www.walbasses.co.uk
 
You can take out the electronics with some small metric allen-wrench set, a small flat-head screwdriver, and a normal pair of pliers to remove the large nuts under the tone/volume/blend knobs.

The grub screw he states is the tiny hex-key screw on each knob.

I think the pickups can come out after being unscrewed with a "Phillips-screwdriver" (obviously, not a mix of Vodka and Milk-of-Magnesia) har har

yeah, sorry about the crud in the Wal. I think this is also part of the cost of ownership. That's why I'm trying to get savvy and know as much as I can about their electronics. I'd like to become a U.S. based tech, if it would save Paul the extra work and shipping.
 
Is it easy to remove the pre-amp? I don't want to have to send my entire bass overseas. I would prefer to just send paul the pre-amp. I just emailed Paul about it. Hopefully he gets back to me soon.

its pretty easy. all it is is unplugging the connectors for pickups/output jacks and removing the knobs and hardware.

as far as replacements go on pickups and preamp... Paul WILL NOT sell it by itself... if you have a broken on, he'll basically ask you to send it back and rebuilt it. He'd never ship one out without having one back in return first.
 
You can take out the electronics with some small metric allen-wrench set, a small flat-head screwdriver, and a normal pair of pliers to remove the large nuts under the tone/volume/blend knobs.

The grub screw he states is the tiny hex-key screw on each knob.

I think the pickups can come out after being unscrewed with a "Phillips-screwdriver" (obviously, not a mix of Vodka and Milk-of-Magnesia) har har

yeah, sorry about the crud in the Wal. I think this is also part of the cost of ownership. That's why I'm trying to get savvy and know as much as I can about their electronics. I'd like to become a U.S. based tech, if it would save Paul the extra work and shipping.

They need a U.S. based tech! It would be less work for him and easier for anybody in the states
 
Yeah I guess I'm not familiar with it and I don't know how much of the pre-amp is "wal specific" Can a lot of it be found on the open market and fixed by an experienced tech or is the majority of it made up of things directly from wal that only Paul is going to be able to take care of
 
Curious... I haven't been happy with my tone lately... it's sounded a bit distorted. Just messing around, I lowered my pickups a bit, and the distortion went away. How does one determine proper pickup height? Is there a specific measurement (mkII 5), or is it an ear thing?